CORNER BROOK Catherine Reid was devastated when police raided her house and arrested her for possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking last month.

But it wasn't so much the brush with the law the 28-year-old Corner Brook woman was so concerned about.

Reid has been living with cervical cancer for nearly three years and, now in the advanced stages of the disease, she says smoking pot is the only way she can muster an appetite so she can eat.

"Without smoking a joint of weed, I can't eat," said Reid, who must appear in provincial court in Corner Brook later this month. "When I do manage to eat, it doesn't stay down. I've gone as long as three weeks without eating. When I smoke a joint, my appetite comes back."

Reid is in the process of applying to Health Canada to be able to access marijuana for medicinal purposes. Ironically, she said she found the application online just the day before she was busted April 25 and is now waiting on one of her doctors to formally support her application.

"I've explained to my doctors, it's not like I smoke a joint and then sit down and eat a five-course meal," she said. "It might be cereal or a Popsicle or an apple. At least I'm getting something into me."

Reid, who admits to having been a recreational pot smoker prior to her diagnosis, and her husband Dean were surprised with the arrest. They claim the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is aware of her situation and should have been more compassionate.

"I think it was wrong what the police did," said her husband. "They have been to our place before (on an unrelated matter) and saw weed on the table and left it. We have not denied this from day one."

Dean said he has to buy marijuana on the street for his wife. He admitted having to sell some of it to make some of the money back. He said he has no regrets about doing that, but would much rather see Catherine get clearance to use medicinal marijuana.

Ever since the arrest, though, the Reids have been afraid of getting arrested again and possibly put in jail for trying to purchase more drugs.

"She needs it and I'm going to get it for her as long as she needs it," said Dean.

"I don't care what anybody says, she's my wife and it's my job to look out for her as best I can. If there's a form of medication that will help keep her alive and put weight on her, I'm going to get it for her. They are trying to take way her right to eat. Isn't that your right to live?

"I don't care if I have to sell my soul, she's going to have it."

For now, the Reids will have to wait and see how their position stands up in court. Catherine Reid's next court appearance is scheduled for May 29.

"This has been rough," she said. "I don't know what's going to happen."